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orlando
13 April 2006, 04:21 AM
Namaste all.
In this post,the glories of Tulasi (the sacred plant of Lord Vishnu) will be taled.
By http://www.bvml.org/contemporary/aosat.htm

Appearance Of Shalagrama And Tulasi
by Padmanabha Goswami
Shastric evidence from Sri Hari-bhakti-vilas
The following history of the appearance of Shalagram and Tulasi is from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana. Though the description there is quite elaborate, we are presenting it here in brief.

There was once a king named Vrsadhvaja who, despite arriving in a dynasty of pious Vaishnava kings, was strictly devoted to Lord Shiva. He had no faith in Lord Vishnu or any of the demigods, and even began to criticize the worship of Lord Vishnu. Seeing the offensive behavior of Vrishadhvaja, Suryadeva cursed him to lose all his wealth and power. He and two generations of his descendants thus became destitute until the appearance of Dharmadhvaja. - Dharmadhvaja and his wife very devotedly worshiped Lakshmidevi to gain her favor and thus a plenary portion of Lakshmi entered his wife's womb.

On Kartika Purnima at a time marked with every auspicious sign, the wife of Dharmadhvaja, Madhavi, gave birth to a very beautiful daughter. She was decorated with all fortunate signs and grew to be an exquisitely beautiful young girl never aging beyond sixteen years. Her beauty stole the mind and heart of everyone, and being impossible to compare her with anyone else, She became known as Tulasi (matchless). - Leaving home, Tulasi went to Badrivan where she performed severe penance's with a desire in her mind that Lord Narayana himself become her husband. Pleased with her austerities, Brahmaji appeared before her and asked what boon she desired. Tulasi explained to him, "In my pervious birth, I was a gopi named Tulasi. By my wonderful good fortune, I was able to became the very dearly beloved maid servant of Lord Krishna. One day in the rasa-mandala, Radharani angrily cursed me to be born on the earth in human society. Thus leaving my divine body, I have taken my birth on the earth in this present form.

Now I desire the boon of attaining Lord Narayana as my husband." - Lord Brahma replied, "There was one cowherd boy named Sudama who also received Radharani's curse to be born on the earth. By that curse he has been born in the family of demons and is now famous on the earth as Sankhacuda. He has done extreme penance's to attain certain boons and to get you as his wife. Thus in this life he will become your husband for some time. Later by the influence of lila you will curse Lord Narayana, but accepting your curse, Lord Narayana will then become your husband. Lord Vishnu will love you more dearly than His own life, and without your presence all puja will be fruitless. By my boon, becoming the presiding deity of all the trees, you will freely enjoy unlimited happiness in the constant association of Lord Vishnu." - Sankhachuda, receiving his desired benedictions along with an all-auspicious protective shield (kavaca) from Lord Brahma, came to Badrivan where he met Tulasi. As they were conversing with each other, Lord Brahma appeared on the spot and said, " Sankhachuda, please accept this young maiden as your wife."

Turning to Tulasi he told her, "After the death of Sankhachuda, you will obtain Lord Vishnu as your husband." - The other boon that sankhachuda received from Lord Brahma was that as long as the chastity of his wife was not violated, no one would be able to kill him. Thus becoming very arrogant, he began to terrorize all the demigods and human beings. Severely afflicted by his attacks, the demigods approached Lord Shiva and begged him to protect them. Then Lord Shankara went there and personally began to fight with Sankhachuda. - Meanwhile, Lord Vishnu made a plan to destroy the chastity of Tulasi. While Lord Shiva and Sankhachuda were ferociously fighting, Lord Hari in the form of a brahmana arrived on the battlefield. He said to Sankhachuda, "Please give your kavaca in charity to me, a brahmana." Then Sankhachuda immediately gave Him the kavaca in charity . That same Lord Hari, disguising Himself as Sankhachuda then went to see Tulasi.

Deceiving her in this way, He began to enjoy with her as if He were her husband and thus broke her chastity. - The Bhavisya Purana goes on for great length to point out that there was certainly no fault on Lord Vishnu's part. He wanted to maintain the benediction given by His devotee Lord Brahma to Sankhachuda, and at the same time He wanted to protect the demigods and devotees. For this purpose He created this particular pastime with the appearance of improper behavior. But since Tulasi is the plenary part of Lakshmidevi, she is actually the wife of Lord Vishnu. - At that very moment Sankaraji killed Sankhachuda on the battlefield. When Tulasi understood all that had happened, she said, "By deceiving me, you have broken my chastity, and killed my husband. You're absolutely stone hearted! Thus I curse you to remain on earth as a stone!" - Lord Hari said, "For many years you underwent very difficult penance's to achieve Me. At the same time, Sankhchuda has also done severe penance's to get you. By the result of his austerity, he enjoyed you as his wife and has now gone to Goloka.

Now you will get the fruit of your penance's. Leaving this mortal body and taking a divine form, you will always remain with Me. Your present body shall turn into the river Gandaki, and from your hair will grow many trees famous as Tulasi.

To fulfill your curse, I will become a stone (Shalagram-shila) and will always live on the banks of the Gandaki River. The millions of worms who live in that place will adorn those stones with the sign of My cakra by carving them with their sharp teeth." After this Lord Vishnu began do dwell perpetually in the waters of the Gandaki River in the form of stones.

According to the Gautamiya Tantra, "a stone from any place other than the Gandaki River in Nepal can never be a Shalagram Sila." In Sri Hari-bhakti-vilas it is stated, "merely by touching a genuine Shalagram Sila one becomes free from the sins of millions of births, so what to speak of worshiping Him. By puja of Shalagram Sila one gains the direct association of Lord Hari." The Skanda Purana states that, "a genuine Shalagram Sila is directly a manifestation of the Supreme Lord Vishnu and does not require any installation."

It is further stated that, "the sale or purchase of a Shalagram Sila is strictly prohibited. Anyone who attempts to determine the material value of a Shalagram Sila will live in hell until the end of the universe. The area within a radius of twenty-four miles from where a Shalagram Sila is worshiped is considered a holy place (tirtha). Anyone who sees, bathes, worships, or bows to a Shalagram Sila will receive the same piety as doing millions of sacrifices and giving millions of cows in charity."

"Without having accumulated pious activities, it is very difficult to find a Shalagram Sila in this world, especially in the age of Kali-yuga." In the Padma Purana it is stated, "if a devotee who is properly initiated in prescribed mantras does the puja of Shalagram Sila, he will attain the Supreme Lord's spiritual abode without a doubt."

Sastric evidence from Sri Hari-bhakti-vilas translated by Sri Padmanabha Goswami, Sri Radha-ramana Temple, Vrindavan, U.P., India.

orlando
13 April 2006, 04:22 AM
In internet I found the following verses:
From Skanda Purana:
NIRMITA TVAM PURA DEVAIR ARCITA TVAM SURASURAIH
TULASI HARA ME PAPAM PUJAM GRHNA NAMOSTUTE

Oh Tulasi, you previously appeared in this world due to the demigods. The
demigods and demons together worship you. Please remove all of my sins. I pay
my obeisances unto you.

YA DRSTA NIKHILA AGHA SANGHA SAMANI SPRSTA VAPUH PAVANI
ROGANAM ABHIVANDITA NIRASINI SIKTANTAKA TRASINI
PRATYA SATTI VIDHAYINI BHAGAVATAH KRSNASYA SAMROPITA
NYASTA TACCARANE VIMUKTI PHALADA TASYAI NAMAH


Just by looking at you (Tulasi), all sins become removed. Just by touching
you, one's body becomes pure. By praying to her, all diseases practically
become removed. If one waters her or makes her wet, the fear of Yamaraja
(death personified) is destroyed. Just by planting or transplanting, one
achieves nearness to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If someone offers
Tulasi at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, she awards liberation and devotion
to Him, therefore I pay my humble obeisances to such a wonderful Tulasidevi.

HITVA TIRTHA-SAHASRANI SARVAN API SILOCCAYAN
TULASI KANANE NITYAM KALAU TISTHATI KESAVAH

In Kali-yuga, Lord Sri Kesava, after giving up thousands of places of
pilgrimage and holy days, He resides in the forest of Tulasidevi.

DRSTVA SPRSTVA TATHA DHYATA KIRTITA NAMITA SRTA
ROPITA SEVITA NITYAM PUJITA TULASI SUBHA
NAVADHA TULASIM NITYAM YE BHAJANTI DINE DINE
YUGA KOTI SAHASRANI TE VASANTI HARER GRHE

Any person who daily sees Tulasi, touches Tulasi, chants Tulasi's prayers,
meditates on Tulasi, pays obeisances to her, hears about her, transplants and
worships her, he achieves all auspiciousness. Any person who does these nine
kinds of service goes to the abode of the Supreme Lord Hari and remains there
eternally.

SNANE DANE TATHA DHYANE PRASANE KESAVA ARCANE
TULASI DAHATE PAPAM ROPANE KIRTANE KALAU

In Kali-yuga, Tulasidevi burns up all of a person's sins who bathes her,
gives her in charity, meditates on her, eats her leaves, worships Lord Sri
Kesava with her, transplants her or sings her glories.

TULASY ALANKRTA YE YE TULASI NAMA JAPAKAH
TULASI VANA PALAYE TE TYAJYA DURATO BHATAH

[Yamaraja instructs
his messengers]Oh messengers, anybody who is decorated with Tulasi wood or chants her name,
always protects a Tulasi forest, you should give up bringing such persons to
my abode.

YASMIN GRHE DVIJA SRESTHA TULASIMULA MRTTIKA
SARVADA TISTHATE DEHE DEVATA NA SA MANUSA
TULASI MRTTIKA YATRA KASTHAM PATRAN CA VESMANI
TISTHATE MUNI SARDULA NISCALAM VAISNAVA PADAM

[Conversation between Lord
Brahma and Narada Muni]Oh best among the brahmanas, in anybody's house or on his body, if the mud
from Tulasi is available, they are not just men, but they are equal to the
demigods. Oh best among the sages, in anyone's house, if there is the clay of
Tulasi, Tulasi wood, and Tulasi leaves available, that house is certainly a
place of Lord Visnu.

YAH KURYAT TULASI KASTHAIR AKSA MALAM SURUPINIM
KANTHA MALAM CA YATNENA KRTAM TASYAKSAYAM BHAVET

[Conversation
between Lord Brahma and Narada Muni]Any person who makes a beautiful japamala or neck beads out of Tulasi wood
and uses them, if he does not perform any worship to Lord Sri Visnu, all of
his activities become unlimitedly resultful.

YASYA NABHI STHITAM PATRAM MUKHE SIRASI KARNAYOH
TULASI SAMBHAVAM NITYAM TIRTHAIS TASYA MAKHAIS CA KIM

If anyone daily has Tulasi leaves on his navel, in his mouth, on his head, or
on both of his ears, what is the use of him going to the places of pilgrimage
in this world?

YAH KASCIT VAISNAVO LOKE MITHYACARO'PY ANASRAMI
PUNATI SAKALAN LOKAN SIRASA TULASIM VAHAN

If any Vaisnava in this world becomes a liar or becomes degraded from his own
asrama, if he has a Tulasi leaf on his head, he can alone purify the three
worlds.

BHAKSITAM LUBDHAKENAPI PATRAM TULASI SAMBHAVAM
PASCAD DISTANTAM APANNO BHASMI BHUTAM KALEVARAM
SITA SITAM YATHA NIRAM SARVA PAPA KSAYAVAHAM
TATHA CA TULASI PATRAM PRASITAM SARVA KAMADAM

Even if a most sinful hunter eats a Tulasi leaf and dies afterwards, whatever
sins he has in his body turn into ashes. As whitish and blackish water (Ganges
and Yamuna water) remove all kinds of sins, in the very same way, white
(green) and black Tulasis removes all kinds of sins, and if he eats these
leaves (after offering them to Lord Krsna), all of his desires are perfectly
achieved.

KRTVA PAPA SAHASRANI PURVE VAYASI MANAVAH
TULASI BHAKSANAN MUCYET SRUTAM ETAT PURA HAREH

[Conversation between Vasistha and
King Mandhata]Any person, in his young age commits thousands of sins but later on eats a
Tulasi leaf, he becomes free from all sins. This narration was heard
previously near Lord Sri Hari.

From Padma Purana:
DARSANAM NARMADAYAS TU GANGA SNANAM VISAM VARA
TULASI DALA SAMSPARSAH SAMAM ETAT TRAYAM SMRTAM
ROPANAT PALANAT SEKAD DARSANAT SPARSANAT NRNAM
TULASI DAHATE PAPAM VANG MANAH KAYA SANCITAM

Oh best of the Vaisyas, seeing Narmada, taking bath in the Ganges, and
touching Tulasi leaves are equally meritorious. If somebody plants, protects,
waters, sees or touches Tulasi, then that person's sins acquired by body, mind
and words are burnt into ashes.

YAD GRHE TULASI BHATI RAKSABHIR JALASECANAIH
TAD GRHAM YAMA DUTAS CA DURATO VARJAYANTI HI

In any house where Tulasi Maharani is very carefully protected and watered,
the messengers of Yamaraja give up that house from a distance.

From Garuda Purana:
TULASI VAPITA YENA PUNYARAME VANE GRHE
PAKSINDRA TENA SATYOKTAM LOKAH SAPTA PRATISTHITAH

Oh king of the birds (Garuda), anyone who has planted a garden of Tulasi,
either in the forest or in the house, I truthfully say that he has won the
seven planetary systems.

From BRHAN NARADIYA PURANA:
SANSARA-PAPA VICCHEDI GANGA NAMA PRAKIRTITAM
TATHA TULASYA BHAKTIS CA HARI KIRTI PRAVAKTARI

As by chanting the name of Ganges, one becomes free from all kinds of worldly
sins, if someone chants the name of Tulasi or chants the glories of Lord Hari
with devotion, he gets the same merit.

TRNANI TULASI MULAT YAVANTYAPAHINOTI VAI
TAVATTIR BRAHMA HATYA HI CHINATY EVA NASAMSAYAH

[Conversation between
Yamaraja and Bhagiratha] Anybody who removes the straw or dirt from the root of Tulasidevi, as many as
he has removed, that many sinful reactions of killing brahmanas will be
removed from him without a doubt.

DURLABHA TULASI SEVA DURLABHA SUNGATIH SATAM
DURLABHA HARI BHAKTIS CA SANSARARNAVA-PATINAM

Those people who have fallen in the midst of this material world, among them
worship of Tulasi is very rare, the association of real saintly persons is
very rare, and real devotion to Lord Hari is also very rare.

ramkish42
13 April 2006, 02:32 PM
nice collection, thanks

Namo Narayana
13 April 2006, 02:46 PM
ramkish toughguy.net namaste ;)

Welcome to Santana dharma forums :)

taking a break from ffi huh ?

Looking forward to your enthusiastic posts.

orlando
07 June 2006, 09:30 AM
Namaste all.
http://www.harekrsna.com/practice/sadhana/morning/tulasi-arati/tulasi.jpg

http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/ashrama/graphics/gardens/tulasi-380x250-3.jpg

Every home with a Tulasi plant is a place of pilgrimage, and no diseases, messengers of Yama, the God of Death, can enter it.
Skandapurana 2, 4, 8, 13 Padmapurana Uttarakhanda

Wherever the aroma of Tulasi is carried by the wind, it purifies the atmosphere and frees all animals from all baser tendencies.
Padmapurana, Uttarakhanda


Vishnu, the Lord of the Three Worlds, takes up abode in the village or the house where Tulasi is grown. In such a house no one suffers calamities like poverty, illness or separations from dear ones. Padmapurana, Uttarakhanda, 6-24-31-32

orlando
07 June 2006, 09:40 AM
By http://www.vrindavan-dham.com/vrinda/songs-prayers.php
Sri Tulasi Pradaksina Mantra
yani kani ca papani
brahma-hatyadikani ca
tani tani pranasyanti
pradaksinah pade pade


yani kani--whatever; ca--and; papani--sins; brahma-hatya--killing of a brahmana; adikani--and so on; ca--also, tani tani--all of them; pranasyanti--are destroyed; pradaksinah--(by) the circumambulation (of Tulasi-devi); pade pade--at every step.


By the circumambulation of Srimati Tulasi-devi all the sins that one may have committed are destroyed at every step, even the sin of killing a brahmana.

Asta-Nama-Stava from the Padma Purana The Eight Names of Vrinda-devi


Vrindavani, vrinda, visvapujita, pushpasara, nandini, Krishna-jivani, visva-pavani, tulasi


VRINDAVANI - One who first manifested in Vrindavan.
VRINDA - The goddess of all plant and trees ( even if one Tulasi plant is present in a forest it can be called Vrindavana.)
VISHVAPUJITA - One whom the whole universe worships.
PUSHPASARA - The topmost of all flowers, without whom Krishna does not like to look upon other flowers.
NANDINI - Seeing whom gives unlimited bliss to the devotees.
KRISHNA-JIVANI - The life of Sri Krishna.
VISHVA-PAVANI - One who purifies the three worlds.
TULASI - One who has no comparison.

108 names of Tulasi-devi

om shri tulasyai namah
om nandinyai namah
om devyai namah
om shikhinyai namah
om dharinyai namah
om dhatryai namah
om savitryai namah
om satyasandhayai namah
om kalaharinyai namah
om gauryai namah
om devagitayai namah
om draviyasyai namah
om padminyai namah
om sitayai namah
om rukminyai namah
om priyabhuushanayai namah
om shreyasyai namah
om shrimatyai namah
om manyayai namah
om gauryai namah
om gautamarchitayai namah
om tretayai namah
om tripathagayai namah
om tripadayai namah
om traimuurtyai namah
om jagatrayayai namah
om trasinyai namah
om gatrayai namah
om gatriyayai namah
om garbhavarinyai namah
om shobhanayai namah
om samayai namah
om dviradayai namah
om aradyai namah
om yagyavidyayai namah
om mahavidyayai namah
om guhyavidyayai namah
om kamaksyai namah
om kulayai namah
om shriyai namah
om bhuumyai namah
om bhavitryai namah
om savitryai namah
om saravedavidamvarayai namah
om shankhinyai namah
om chakrinyai namah
om charinyai namah
om chapaleksanayai namah
om pitambarayai namah
om prota somayai namah
om saurasayai namah
om aksinyai namah
om ambayai namah
om sarasvatyai namah
om samshrayayai namah
om sarva devatyai namah
om vishvashrayayai namah
om sugandhinyai namah
om suvasanayai namah
om varadayai namah
om sushronyai namah
om chandrabhagayai namah
om yamunapriyayai namah
om kaveryai namah
om manikarnikayai namah
om archinyai namah
om sthayinyai namah
om danapradayai namah
om dhanavatyai namah
om sochyamanasayai namah
om shuchinyai namah
om shreyasyai namah
om pritichinteksanyai namah
om vibhuutyai namah
om akrityai namah
om avirbhuutyai namah
om prabhavinyai namah
om gandhinyai namah
om svarginyai namah
om gadayai namah
om vedyayai namah
om prabhayai namah
om sarasyai namah
om sarasivasayai namah
om sarasvatyai namah
om sharavatyai namah
om rasinyai namah
om kalinyai namah
om shreyovatyai namah
om yamayai namah
om brahmapriyayai namah
om shyamasundarayai namah
om ratnaruupinyai namah
om shamanidhinyai namah
om shatanandayai namah
om shatadyutaye namah
om shitikanthayai namah
om prayayai namah
om dhatryai namah
om shri vrindavanyai namah
om krishnayai namah
om bhaktavatsalayai namah
om gopikakridayai namah
om harayai namah
om amritaruupinyai namah
om bhuumyai namah
om shri krishnakantayai namah
om shri tulasyai namah

Regards,
Orlando.

orlando
07 June 2006, 09:46 AM
http://www.vrindavan-dham.com/vrinda/gallery/tulasi.jpg

http://tenyearsof.us/img/dscf0065.jpg

http://www.salagram.net/Tulasi-two-kinds.jpg

satay
07 June 2006, 12:09 PM
I have been looking for Tulsi plant here in Canada but can't find it anywhere...maybe it has some 'european' name? Anyone know where to find this plant in the west?

Sudarshan
07 June 2006, 12:29 PM
I have been looking for Tulsi plant here in Canada but can't find it anywhere...maybe it has some 'european' name? Anyone know where to find this plant in the west?

Satay, I think it is called Holy Basil in the west.(Ocimum sanctum)

sarabhanga
08 June 2006, 03:09 AM
तुलसी मन्त्रः
|| tulasī mantrah ||


तुलस्यमृतनामासि सदा त्वं केशवप्रिया ।
tulasyamritanāmāsi sadā tvam keśavapriyā |

स्नानं कुरु महादेवि । कल्याणं कुरु सर्वदा ॥
snānam kuru mahādevi | kalyānam kuru sarvadā ||

orlando
08 June 2006, 08:31 AM
I have been looking for Tulsi plant here in Canada but can't find it anywhere...maybe it has some 'european' name? Anyone know where to find this plant in the west?

Namaste Satay.
I think that in the west you can buy Tulasi or at least seeds of it in an ISKCON temple.

orlando
08 June 2006, 10:06 AM
तुलसी मन्त्रः
|| tulasī mantrah ||


तुलस्यमृतनामासि सदा त्वं केशवप्रिया ।
tulasyamritanāmāsi sadā tvam keśavapriyā |

स्नानं कुरु महादेवि । कल्याणं कुरु सर्वदा ॥
snānam kuru mahādevi | kalyānam kuru sarvadā ||

Namaste Shri Sarabhanga.
Please can you write the translation?

Regards,
Orlando.

satay
08 June 2006, 03:13 PM
Namaste Satay.
I think that in the west you can buy Tulasi or at least seeds of it in an ISKCON temple.

ah thanks!
but unfortunately there are no iskon temples in our city. I suppose I would have to pick it up from a temple in toronto next time I am there.

sarabhanga
09 June 2006, 01:49 AM
Immortal Tulasi thou art always dear to Keshava.
O Great Goddess, purify! Make always auspicious!

ramkish42
09 June 2006, 12:45 PM
Just to add:

The word Keshavapriya is interpretted by Shri Sarabhanga as Keshavapriye iti keshavapriya

On the other hand, it can also mean, a person (esp woman)who loves Kesava, indicating a ardent devotee of Kesava

Sudarshan
09 June 2006, 01:03 PM
Keshava has an enormous number of meanings itself.
Some of them hair-locks, killer of Kesi the demon.

kascha ascha ISascha keshavah, which can be interpreted in two ways.
One is that ka is Vishnu, A is Brahma and Isha is Shiva, so Kesava is the trimurti, the trinity.

In Shankara's Vishnusaharsnama commentary, he cites Harivamsha to say that it denotes Brahma and Shiva, born of Vishnu. Thus Kesavah, means the origin of Shiva and Brahma - this is given by Sri Shankara.